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The free and safe social learning network for educationSun, 02 Aug 2015 18:12:39 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=4.2.3The Global Search for Education: 7 Teachers on 7 Continents #EdChat on #EdTechhttps://blog.edmodo.com/2015/08/02/the-global-search-for-education-7-teachers-on-7-continents-edchat-on-edtech/
https://blog.edmodo.com/2015/08/02/the-global-search-for-education-7-teachers-on-7-continents-edchat-on-edtech/#commentsSun, 02 Aug 2015 17:41:25 +0000https://blog.edmodo.com/?p=15631The Global Search for Education (GSE) is a regular contributor to the Edmodo Blog. Authored by C.M. Rubin, GSE brings together distinguished thought leaders in education and innovation from around the world to explore the key learning issues faced by today’s nations. Look for a new post every Friday and join the Global Search for Education Community on Edmodo to share your perspectives with their editorial staff.

Global classroom collaboration to share good practice: does anyone do it on quite the same scale as Edmodo? On August 4, EdmodoCon 2015 will be streamed live from San Mateo, California. Thousands and thousands of teachers from all over the world will log on to what some call the educational collaboration event of the year in order to share the ways they are using Edmodo and other tech tools to personalize learning.

“Educators of 2015 no longer can use the excuse that they didn’t know, when there are so many places to help them be in the know.” Canadian Educator Karen Lirenman encourages a global collective leadership model for teachers. Thoughts?

Teresa Perles, Spain: Absolutely. Teachers should all be acquainted with technology and develop their skills further through their PLN (personal learning network), and through communication with peers in these networks, a global collective leadership model could be agreed upon.

Bianca Hewes, Australia: I absolutely agree. The benefit of nourishing a global learning community has seen me thrive as a teacher—these connections have given my students real-world audiences and purposes for their learning, and have supported me through the roller-coaster ride that is being a teacher. Those of us privileged to have already established a global professional learning network have a responsibility to encourage and support other teachers to develop their own as well.

Lisa Finch, United Arab Emirates: Edmodo is a really great example of a way in which educators can connect with each other—as part of specialized subject communities/groups and also via resource sharing such as Spotlight. It is bringing everyone closer together and is allowing education to evolve on digital platforms. Knowledge sharing is key. Social networking sites (such as Twitter) are also hubs for teachers to share, advise and innovate. Live webinars and free online MOOCs (eg: Coursera) give us opportunities to extend our existing skill sets and knowledge. I recommend all teachers to get online. Find things out, make connections and continue to learn. Be role models for students and other educators. Take risks (especially with technology), follow peers and innovators, be resilient, share ideas, and go the extra mile. Never stand still.

Josh Gaines, Thailand: The best way to improve in your practice is to observe your peers and work with others who know what they’re doing.

Premanand Edward Malyakkal, India: As a teacher from South India, it is still the good old newspaper, particularly interesting when accompanied with a cup of coffee. Curated sites installed as Apps bring out graphic, visual, and audio in them. Zite and Flipboard are a few of them. RSS feeds, news magazine capsules, dictionary.com, Elevate, and Zinio rank among them. Edmodo too, with its communities and threads to understand more about how learning objectives are achieved in various parts of the globe.

Lisa Goochee, Brazil: It’s less about the plethora of tools or help available, and more about respecting the time educators need to rest, recover, and tend to their personal lives. We need to build products, methods, and platforms that enhance the teaching endeavor and advance the profession, rather than detract from teachers’ personal time and strip the career of whatever nobility it still has. It is the responsibility of leaders to set a vision and pace in conversation with their staff regarding the right tools for their school(s) and the schedule for integration and ongoing revision of these tools.

John Choins, Texas: Through the worldwide connections available via Edmodo, one can collaborate, and even have students collaborate with others. This opens doors for teachers and students to expand their knowledge in ways one cannot, just by reading a book.

Share one recent story that illustrates how the Edmodo technology has enhanced the ways in which teachers, students, administrators, or parents communicate in your community.

Teresa Perles, Spain: I teach English as a foreign language. I had a new student who came with a poor level of English, and our school has an advanced standard for this subject. With the support of his mother, he received intensive intervention via Edmodo and was able to reach the minimum objectives in just under three months!

Bianca Hewes, Australia: I have started working at a new school in the role of professional learning coordinator. The first thing I did was create new Edmodo groups for my new classes, and introduced them to a range of new ways to use it such as silent conversations, small group collaborations, and completing class tasks digitally. I have also established staff PLC (professional learning community) teams who are working on action research projects examining their practice. To support this process, I have created a PLC Edmodo group, and added a range of useful resources to folders that each teacher can access anytime, anywhere.

Lisa Finch, United Arab Emirates: I’ve set up a project called TechPreneur that uses Edmodo as a communication tool between schools. Two students from my school team up with a pair from another, located elsewhere in the world. They work collaboratively, over a period of weeks, to create an idea for a new tech startup. All design work and project management takes place via Edmodo. The students gain a real sense of how a new product would be innovated in the real world, where project team members could be scattered across the globe. It stimulates creative problem-solving and provides students with the chance to interact with peers from another country/culture.

Josh Gaines, Thailand: Many of my students are English Language Learners and very shy to use English. For many of them Edmodo is a safe way to communicate with a teacher.

Premanand Edward Malyakkal, India: An assignment was given via Edmodo in 2012 to a group of tertiary learners. One student came up with the topic, Merits and Demerits of the Internet. After evaluation, this was posted on the class blog. Within a few days, this particular article received numerous comments from various parts of the world.

Lisa Goochee, Brazil: I attended a student leadership conference at the American School (Lincoln School) of Buenos Aires. It is called the Global Issues Network Conference and focuses on global improvement projects from school-based student groups from each region of the world. My 4th grade students and I were working on our own small-scale project-based learning units at the time centered around questions of school citizenship and character values. I went to the conference to learn what the older students were doing. While I was at this conference, I detailed stories about these student teams from around the South American continent, specifically their work and their impact, back to my Brazil kids via Edmodo. My students were so inspired by the stories that they created a small team of students to research unfair child labor practices and made a small awareness campaign in our community to advocate conscious consumer practices before the holiday shopping season. They filmed their work and posted some of their flyers on Edmodo. This was done outside of school time.

John Choins, Texas: I created educational videos and posted the link to those videos on Edmodo. Students watched the videos, completed the practice problems included in the videos, and sent those problems back to me through the Edmodo “Assignment” feature. I evaluated their work, and then designed the class time to meet the needs of the students, based on their practice problems. Through Edmodo, the students were also able to communicate with me and other students about the videos and ask me questions to clarify something they saw in the video. The most fun thing students did, though, was notify me when they found a mistake in one of the videos.

When books came along, oral histories became less important. Let’s talk about other examples of traditional education that have become outmoded because of technology. What’s become much more important in today’s classroom because of technology, and conversely, what do you believe should be significantly de-emphasized?

Teresa Perles, Spain: Long explanations on the blackboard have definitely become outmoded in our school. Today, all classrooms have a screen on which we can project the presentations we have created or chosen beforehand, and then we share them with students; or we implement flipped teaching.

Bianca Hewes, Australia: There are obvious practices that are less necessary, such as creating title pages, ruling margins, and answering comprehension questions in workbooks. Collaboration skills are far more essential in a global world than being able to work independently in a closed environment. Digital technologies such as Edmodo are really powerful in facilitating the development of essential skills required of young people entering today’s workforce. Communicating online with peers teaches them the importance of etiquette, and the subtleties of the written word versus the spoken.

Lisa Finch, United Arab Emirates: The 21st century classroom is now open 24/7. Tools such as Edmodo make education accessible at times when learning may be more convenient. Parents can also access resources and lesson content—allowing them to get a fuller flavor of what their children are engaging with. Learners are not isolated. Teachers are less restricted. This triad creates a powerful learning community that is supported, flexible and transparent.

Josh Gaines, Thailand: Students are now able to turn in work to me, and receive feedback and grades directly through Edmodo. One area that is becoming much more important for students is online portfolios, or any online space available for students. Students need a place on the web they can call their own and tools that allow them to shape the internet to meet their own needs.

Premanand Edward Malyakkal, India: Projecting notes via PowerPoint is the order of the day. However, the sad thing is that no major changes are incorporated/updated into these notes. The ‘library habit’ of a teacher has been substituted with an iPad and the teacher walks with an air of assumption that ‘everything’ is at beck and call. Teachers need to introspect themselves, learn new technologies suitable for their classrooms, update their skills, and benefit from the information overflow.

Lisa Goochee, Brazil: The most outdated and destructive vestigial feature in the modern K-12 space is the emphasis on standardized testing along with the college admissions and enrollment processes which rely on these testing conventions. With the digital tools we have on hand, we could liberate children to experience and demonstrate their learning in far more compelling ways via live documentation of community-based or real-world endeavors. We need to align school learning to the real-world we are all inheriting. As students can find out most any information for themselves, the values and purpose of our education needs to be discussed in open forums on all scales of family to society. Without more conversations about our educational values and purpose in the wake of this new age of open learning, we will surely struggle to set realistic boundaries for safety and clear goals to support all students to their individual successes. We are likely to continue disrupting students’ natural curiosities when it has never been easier to avoid, all for the sake of maintaining an outdated status-quo of educating. We should de-emphasize content standards and emphasize skill-building, competency-building, and character education to build a healthier world.

John Choins, Texas: Hard copies of textbooks have become unnecessary because of technology. In today’s classrooms, teaching students how to learn, where to find valid information online, as well as how to use that information, has become more important. Teachers must adapt to become facilitators who help students learn, instead of ones who just give students information, expecting them to learn it.

C.M. Rubin is the author of two widely read online series for which she received a 2011 Upton Sinclair award, “The Global Search for Education” and “How Will We Read?” She is also the author of three bestselling books, including The Real Alice in Wonderland, is the publisher of CMRubinWorld, and is a Disruptor Foundation Fellow.

]]>https://blog.edmodo.com/2015/08/02/the-global-search-for-education-7-teachers-on-7-continents-edchat-on-edtech/feed/0EdmodoCon 2015: Meet Speaker Kari Salomonhttps://blog.edmodo.com/2015/07/31/edmodocon-2015-meet-speaker-kari-salomon/
https://blog.edmodo.com/2015/07/31/edmodocon-2015-meet-speaker-kari-salomon/#commentsFri, 31 Jul 2015 19:00:06 +0000https://blog.edmodo.com/?p=15557While earning a Bachelor’s in Middle Grades Education from Brenau University and a Master’s in EdTech from the University of West Georgia, Kari Salomon knew she wanted to use Science to change the world. Today, she does that one child at a time as a middle school teacher for Gwinnett County Public Schools, where she helps students become aware of the world around them and shows them how to care for the planet and each other. In her spare time, Salomon fills her world with hiking, travel, and photography.

Salomon knows it’s important for students to understand various perspectives, and during her Collective Curriculum: Sparking Discussions Across Subject Areas session from 2:15 pm–3:00 pm PST, she will show EdmodoCon participants how she uses Edmodo to help students think critically. Tune in to watch how you can combine offline preparation with online debates to prepare your classroom for multiple disciplines and standards. Walk away with strategies on how to structure research, format discussions, set guidelines, and more.

What inspired you to apply to speak at EdmodoCon?Good leadership at my school, combined with support from colleagues and students, provided the inspiration to apply and share with teachers around the world.

In 2014, Mike Bender, AP at Hull Middle School, asked me to submit a presentation proposal for Georgia’s first STEM Forum. I did, and enjoyed the experience. Meanwhile, counselor Rosemary Aschoff and AP Scott Frandsen visited my class when we were engaged in our first Edmodo debate of the year. They were impressed with the students and took the time to share their supportive comments with me. Later, Darlene Brown not only attended my presentation at Georgia State Science Teacher’s Association Conference, but she said these impactful words, “Ms. Salomon, I want to share you with the world.”

That very day, I received the “Call for Speakers” email from Edmodo. I thought the timing was interesting. I enjoyed the two presentations that I shared in conferences, I valued what I have learned from speakers at previous EdmodoCon events, and I really wanted to share what I thought was a unique use of Edmodo as a blended classroom tool. That very day, I began my application process.

How did you feel when you found out you were selected?When I received the email, I was on spring break in New Orleans. I hadn’t been in any of the casinos, but I felt I had won a HUGE JACKPOT! EdmodoCon is giving me the most amazing opportunity to share an innovative and successful classroom strategy with teachers all over the world. I envisioned students all over the world engaging in deep conversations and arguments related to content area topics.

Later, after the euphoria settled, I felt extremely humbled as I realized that I would be sharing what I do with many of the best teachers in the world, who could no doubt share wonderful strategies of their own.

What’s the one thing you hope people take away from your EdmodoCon presentation?An excitement for hosting and guidelines for structuring student debate in their own classrooms. I’d really LOVE some feedback from teachers, especially if they further develop some guidelines or templates.

Why did you become an educator?There are many really good things about the world we live in and many “not-so-good-things.” As a student, my teachers told me that I can change the world. My art teacher, Mrs. Lupkey, and my 4th grade teacher, Mrs. Haley, are particularly memorable in their inspiration and encouragement.

In later years, Mrs. Sundberg, Mr. Ivie, Mrs. Brasch, Mr. Shorb, and Mrs. Livingston ingrained in me that each person can change the world in some way. I want to make the learning experience for students a fantastic one, and empower them with knowledge and skills to help them make a difference in this world. I want to change the world, one student at a time.

What do you like most about being an educator?As a teacher, I get a whole new group of students to love each and every year. They come with their unique personalities and families, let me share in their lives, and take some of me back to their families. They trust me as their Earth Science teacher to change the way they see the world, starting with rocks and minerals, and moving through the Earth Systems to Astronomy. It’s an amazing experience. In this way, my family and my community grow and are enriched year after year.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received from another educator?There are two:

“Many children don’t care to learn until they learn that you care.” –Cynthia O’Brien

“If they believe you are a princess, they will treat you like a princess. Make them think you are a princess.” –Luann Kosa

What have your students taught you?My students, bless their hearts, have taught me that it is OK to make mistakes, OK to admit mistakes, and OK to ask for suggestions on how to do things better. I was told by an administrator 10 years ago that I should never admit that I am wrong about something to a student, that it would be unprofessional. Fortunately, I had already learned that to be human is to allow others to be human. I am fallible yet redeemable, as are all of my students. In this way, my students have taught me how to make my classroom a safe place, where everyone, including myself, is loved and cared for.

What’s the first thing you do when you get home from school?LOL! I “hug on” my blind and deaf dog, Hammer! Next, I check Edmodo in case anyone gets stuck with an assignment or technology. (Usually, though, they have posted the issue in a Group called, “Homework Helpers,” and someone else has already solved the problem.) I also spend 15 minutes each night monitoring conversations on Edmodo.

Favorites

Food: Lobster

Movie: Secretariat

TV Show(s): Big Bang Theory

Music: Classical

Book: Holy Cow! Just ONE???

Superpower: Master of Time and Space

Quote: “The pupil who is never required to do what he cannot do, never does what he can do.” –John Stuart Mill

]]>https://blog.edmodo.com/2015/07/31/edmodocon-2015-meet-speaker-kari-salomon/feed/0The Global Search for Education: 12 Teacher Bloggers Discuss How to Reduce Bullyinghttps://blog.edmodo.com/2015/07/31/the-global-search-for-education-12-teacher-bloggers-discuss-how-to-reduce-bullying/
https://blog.edmodo.com/2015/07/31/the-global-search-for-education-12-teacher-bloggers-discuss-how-to-reduce-bullying/#commentsFri, 31 Jul 2015 16:30:47 +0000https://blog.edmodo.com/?p=15569The Global Search for Education (GSE) is a regular contributor to the Edmodo Blog. Authored by C.M. Rubin, GSE brings together distinguished thought leaders in education and innovation from around the world to explore the key learning issues faced by today’s nations. Look for a new post every Friday and join the Global Search for Education Community on Edmodo to share your perspectives with their editorial staff.

Dr. Tracey C. Burns is a Project Leader at the OECD’s Centre for Educational Research and Innovation, Directorate for Education and Skills in Paris (@OECD_Edu). She is considered a global expert on the subject of bullying. She notes ,“there is a huge amount of political attention being paid to the issue,” and summarizes this serious global problem as follows:

In terms of prevalence, the bottom line is that it appears that traditional forms of bullying are remaining steady in terms of frequency while cyber bullying is increasing, although it is still not as common as face to face bullying.

Bullies, motivated to enhance their status among their peers, bully in front of witnesses, whose approval (or at least tacit silence) is crucial. They tend to choose their victims from those who sit in the bottom line of the social ledger, those least able to fight back. And it works, both to raise the popularity of the bully and to hurt the victim.

There are several commonly accepted myths about the causes of bullying for which there is no supporting evidence. These include claims that bullying stems from large class or school sizes, competition for grades, or other school life pressures. Another common assumption is that bullies suffer from poor self-esteem and insecurity.

What can be done? We asked our Top 12 Global Teacher Bloggers to share their answers to this question: What are several real ways you have seen bullying reduced?

James Alan Sturtevant (@jamessturtevant) (referred by Top 12 Global Blogger Todd Finley – @finleyt), Social Studies teacher at Big Walnut High School in Sunbury, Ohio, and Author of You’ve Gotta Connect, makes the bold recommendation that reaching out to bullies can sometimes be as important as punishment. In his words, “Harsh consequences don’t always work, can make bullies worse, and sometimes evoke retribution for unfortunate victims.” Reaching out does not mean excusing, but remaining in stealth dialogue to foster potential positive influence. More from James

Pauline Hawkins (@PaulineDHawkins), author of Uncommon Core: 25 Ways to Help Your Child Succeed in a Cookie Cutter Educational System, says the only way to reduce bullying is to be a good role model in your treatment of others, as a parent or teacher. She cautions, “The anti-bullying programs in schools will have little influence on students if the adults in their lives are not teaching and modeling respect.” More from Pauline

Adam Steiner (@steineredtech) dispels myths about cyberbullying and provides much needed pragmatic advice to school administrators. One of many gems is that no school, no matter how genial it is in real life, is exempt from online bullying. More from Adam

Lisa Currie (@RippleKindness), located in Australia and creator of the Ripple Kindness Project, provided two insightful perspectives:

Social and emotional learning must be emphasized in schools to reduce bullying. Rather than merely blaming the bully, other factors must be looked into, such as a lack of character-building education. More from Lisa

Further understand the benefit of emotional learning by looking at studies that show how the practice of kindness not only produces joy but also reduces bullying in schools. More from Lisa

Vicki Davis (@coolcatteacher) uses personal experience to give surefire ways to nip bullying in the bud. One of her advisements is to form allies with peers. Her real world advice is a must for concerned students. More from Vicki

Craig Kemp (@mrkempnz) from New Zealand offers three tools that parents and administrators will find very assuring in combating bullying. One is creating a culture of trust from the top down, another is educating parents. He provides useful tips for how to get started in this process. More from Craig

C.M. Rubin is the author of two widely read online series for which she received a 2011 Upton Sinclair award, “The Global Search for Education” and “How Will We Read?” She is also the author of three bestselling books, including The Real Alice in Wonderland, is the publisher of CMRubinWorld, and is a Disruptor Foundation Fellow.

]]>https://blog.edmodo.com/2015/07/31/the-global-search-for-education-12-teacher-bloggers-discuss-how-to-reduce-bullying/feed/0EdmodoCon 2015: Meet Speaker Randy Fairfieldhttps://blog.edmodo.com/2015/07/30/edmodocon-2015-meet-speaker-randy-fairfield/
https://blog.edmodo.com/2015/07/30/edmodocon-2015-meet-speaker-randy-fairfield/#commentsThu, 30 Jul 2015 19:00:47 +0000https://blog.edmodo.com/?p=15549Randy Fairfield teaches Language Arts and Social Studies to a diverse student population, and over the past seven years, has worked with migrants learning English, students at-risk of dropping out, and students being homeschooled. To further his practice, Fairfield’s Master’s Degree in Teaching will soon be accompanied by a National Board Certification. His passion for education is shared by his wife of 11 years, who’s an elementary teacher. Together, they’re raising three children and the largest Dominique Wilkins basketball card collection the world.

Every student has goals and dreams, and from 9:45 am–10:30 am PST, Fairfield will tell EdmodoCon attendees how to tap into them during his Culture of Caring: Building a Support Community With Students & Parents session. With tools to personalize learning and encourage parental involvement, tune in to watch how Edmodo gives you the flexibility to communicate one-on-one, tailor opportunities to an individual’s interests, reduce dropout rates, and position both students and teachers for success.

What inspired you to apply to speak at EdmodoCon?Because Edmodo helped me transform from an average teacher to an excellent teacher. I wanted to “spread the love,” had shared about Edmodo at a few other conferences, and always received the same response from fellow educators: “Why isn’t everyone doing this?!?” I applied to speak at EdmodoCon because I felt sharing the way I use Edmodo might help other teachers.

How did you feel when you found out you were selected?Believe it or not I wasn’t all that surprised! I knew the odds were against me because there are a so many people that apply, but I put a lot of effort and passion into my presentation proposal and somehow I just knew that would shine through.

What’s the one thing you hope people take away from your EdmodoCon presentation?I hope it is an ability to see how Edmodo and technology in general can be used to deepen relationships.

Why did you become an educator?This is kind of embarrassing, but I entered into the teacher prep program largely because there weren’t any other courses available for me to take in my history major. It was at that point that I started to think a bit more seriously about what I wanted to do after I graduated and I realized that education was something that I valued deeply.

What do you like most about being an educator?There are so many things. My colleagues are great. The content I get to teach is great. Getting to challenge students to become critical thinkers is especially great. But at the end of the day, the best part about being an educator is being a spark plug. There are few greater feelings than knowing that you helped to provide the spark that helped a student enjoy your content area for the first time, or helped a student realize they could be successful, or helped a student decide what they want to be when they grow up.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received from another educator?The best of advice I’ve received from another educator was early in my career when I was listening to a couple of senior teachers converse over lunch. They were talking about how they would know when it’s time to quit when they didn’t feel like they cared anymore. That conversation helped me realize that caring is at the heart of education.

What have your students taught you?That everyone has a story and that there are reasons that underlie everything we do. With that in mind, my students have helped me to see people as diverse individuals with diverse needs.

What’s the first thing you do when you get home from school?Put on some music and sing and dance with my two-year old.

Favorites

Food: Seafood – except for oysters

Movie: Lord of the Rings Trilogy

TV Show(s): Everybody Loves Raymond

Music: John Michael Talbot

Book: The Bible

Superpower: Uh…Telepathy?

Quote: “Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back only they didn’t. Because they were holding on to something…That there’s some good in this world, Mr. Frodo. And it’s worth fighting for.” –Samwise Gamgee

]]>https://blog.edmodo.com/2015/07/30/edmodocon-2015-meet-speaker-randy-fairfield/feed/5EdmodoCon 2015: Meet Speaker Kathy Pittingerhttps://blog.edmodo.com/2015/07/29/edmodocon-2015-meet-speaker-kathy-pittinger/
https://blog.edmodo.com/2015/07/29/edmodocon-2015-meet-speaker-kathy-pittinger/#commentsWed, 29 Jul 2015 19:00:50 +0000https://blog.edmodo.com/?p=15545Before becoming a teacher, Kathy Pittinger earned a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Wisconsin, got a Master’s from the American Graduate School of International Management, and spent 15 years working in international business in the Caribbean. A lifelong learner, Pittinger now focuses on giving students the tools and strategies they need to explore the world. In her 12 years as a Gifted & Talented elementary teacher, Pittinger has continually strived to acquire and apply new skills to enhance student learning.

During her No Passport Required: Global Classroom Collaboration in Action panel from 8:00 am–8:45 am PST, Pittinger will show EdmodoCon viewers how she uses language as an opportunity to give students a new way to express themselves. Tune in to watch Pittinger discuss how she translates their worldview by pairing bilingual 4th and 5th graders with students in other countries, and to see project-based best practices that can help increase communication, collaboration, and cultural awareness in your classroom.

What inspired you to apply to speak at EdmodoCon?I want to share the excitement and enthusiasm that was generated as my students collaborated with students from all over the globe these past few years on various projects. It’s my desire to encourage fellow educators to develop plans to communicate with international students and collaborate on unlimited types of projects via platforms such as Edmodo, Google Docs, and Skype. I hope to show it’s not hard to participate in these types of projects. It just takes perseverance and hard work.

How did you feel when you found out you were selected?I was shocked! I was so excited. I still am. I can’t believe that soon I’ll be sharing my class’ experiences with fellow educators and students from all over the globe. This is an amazing opportunity. I am so grateful that I was chosen to share at this year’s conference.

What’s the one thing you hope people take away from your EdmodoCon presentation?I hope they’ll be motivated to take risks and try something new. I hope they’ll encourage their students to explore new worlds of possibilities through collaboration with students from other countries and cultures. I hope they’ll discover how diverse, amazing, and exciting the world is right now, and grow to appreciate how rewarding it can be to establish relationships with teachers and students from countries other than their own.

Why did you become an educator?I am passionate about helping young people identify and develop their strengths and create plans to help them achieve things they did not originally believe they could ever achieve. I am dedicated to helping my students reach their potential through hard work, research, introspection, self-study, improved communication skills, and critical thinking. I can’t imagine spending my life doing anything else. I love facilitating my students’ learning and feel both honored and privileged to be called to this profession.

What do you like most about being an educator?I love that I have the opportunity to ignite the curiosities of tomorrow’s leaders. I love that I spend my days working to engage my students in ways that stretch their brains and help them to develop to their potential. I love that I have the opportunity to participate in their fascinating growth and develop a relationship with them that lasts well beyond the time that they are in my classroom. I feel like I am part of something much larger than simply teaching a “curriculum.” Together, my fellow educators and I are shaping the future of our world.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received from another educator?Sometimes, even the best plans don’t turn out as we had hoped. Once, someone I respected told me, “Tomorrow is another day.” Thankfully, we always have one more chance. Every day, I encourage my students to do do their best work and I expect the same of myself. Never give up. Always do your best work…but don’t be too hard on yourself when things don’t turn out as you’ve planned. Tomorrow is another day.

What have your students taught you?That I have so much to learn. I love spending time with my students. I absolutely love growing and learning with them. We are constantly questioning how things work and how we can work together to make this world a better place. Together, we encourage each other to take big risks, try new things, and never give up!

What’s the first thing you do when you get home from school?Kick off my shoes, find my daughter, and ask her about her day at school. Then, find something to eat.

]]>https://blog.edmodo.com/2015/07/29/edmodocon-2015-meet-speaker-kathy-pittinger/feed/50EdmodoCon 2015: Meet Speaker John Choinshttps://blog.edmodo.com/2015/07/28/edmodocon-2015-meet-speaker-john-choins/
https://blog.edmodo.com/2015/07/28/edmodocon-2015-meet-speaker-john-choins/#commentsTue, 28 Jul 2015 19:00:58 +0000https://blog.edmodo.com/?p=15537During his 16-year teaching career, John Choins has worked in both public and private schools in the Waco, Texas area. For the last 11 years, he’s taught middle school math, including algebra, to regular and pre-AP math students, and was chosen as the 2014-15 Teacher of the Year on his current campus. A strong advocate for using technology to transform the teaching and learning process, Choins “flipped” his classroom in 2014 and based on the positive effects, vows to never go back to the traditional way of teaching again.

What inspired you to apply to speak at EdmodoCon?This past year I used Edmodo almost every day with my students as a part of flipping my classroom. I had never flipped my classroom before, and I was absolutely amazed at what a positive experience it was for me, my students, and their parents. I want to share my success, and my love for Edmodo, with anyone who will listen. When I saw the request for video submissions and the opportunity to present at EdmodoCon, I jumped at the chance to share what I do on a platform that I love.

How did you feel when you found out you were selected?I was ecstatic. I couldn’t wait to tell my colleagues!

What’s the one thing you hope people take away from your EdmodoCon presentation?That “flipping” their classroom is possible, it can be done with ease, and it can make a huge difference in the education of their students.

Why did you become an educator?I have loved working with younger kids since I was in high school. I have always loved helping them learn new things, but most importantly, making sure they understand how valuable they are as human beings.

What do you like most about being an educator?Building relationships with students, and making sure they understand how much they are cared for. Another thing I love is hearing from my students years after they were in my class.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received from another educator?You don’t have to grade everything.

What have your students taught you?To not take myself too seriously, to not be embarrassed if I make a mistake, and that they are capable of ANYTHING they put their mind to.

What’s the first thing you do when you get home from school?Look through the mail and/or take out our dog.

Favorites

Food: Ice Cream

Movie: Star Wars (the entire series)

TV Show(s): NCIS and Criminal Minds

Music: Gospel

Book: The Bible

Superpower: Teaching Middle School

Quote: “Students don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”

Wooten will be on the 21st Century Thought Leaders: Defining Today’s Learner panel from 11:30 am–12:15 pm PST at this year’s EdmodoCon, to discuss how technology changes how the world communicates. In education, it gives teachers a way to collaborate, students choice and a voice, parents the option to offer support, and admins tools to build professional learning communities. Tune in to watch Wooten and three other experts examine how technology also redefines and improves the learning process for everyone involved.

What inspired you to apply to speak at EdmodoCon?I am captivated with the idea of and impact of informal learning. I initially collaborated with some Edmodo ambassadors to lead a panel on Do-It-Yourself Professional Development for SXSWedu. I still believed in this idea and remained curious on the topic. Since Edmodo was one of the primary tools used for many educators for inquiry and informal learning, I felt it would be a great topic for Edmodocon!

How did you feel when you found out you were selected?I was so excited when I found out I was selected as a speaker that I contacted my friend Anna Davila, who now lives in Australia, because she was a 2013 Edmodocon speaker!

What’s the one thing you hope people take away from your EdmodoCon presentation?That there are many different ways to go about learning in this modern era, and all they have to do is determine the goal and follow the path (it never stops) to keep learning and growing.

Why did you become an educator?To make a difference. It may sound trite but the concept of making a difference is powerful to me. When we make a difference, we are making a significant impact on the lives of the people we touch and the community we serve.

What do you like most about being an educator?Seeing change and growth happen right before my eyes. Anyone who’s ever been a gardener has experienced the joy of seeing a plant transform from a seed to a beautiful plant. I experience that when I get to see the “light bulb” moments in students’ eyes and when I see a teacher using what he has learned in one of my sessions.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received from another educator?To be true to my teaching style and not compare myself to others.

What have your students taught you?To never give up on them. Keep inspiring them, sharing with them, relating with them, and teaching them even when they are resistant or apathetic.

What’s the first thing you do when you get home from school?Check in with my own children about their days at school.

]]>https://blog.edmodo.com/2015/07/27/edmodocon-2015-meet-speaker-rachelle-wooten/feed/2EdmodoCon 2015: Meet Speaker John Shoemakerhttps://blog.edmodo.com/2015/07/24/edmodocon-2015-meet-speaker-john-shoemaker/
https://blog.edmodo.com/2015/07/24/edmodocon-2015-meet-speaker-john-shoemaker/#commentsFri, 24 Jul 2015 19:00:37 +0000https://blog.edmodo.com/?p=15465John Shoemaker is a Technology Specialist who facilitates Project SMaRT, a long-term professional development technology initiative for secondary teachers in the School District of Palm Beach County. Shoemaker supports over 12,000 teachers in integrating all forms of technology, including iPads and Edmodo. Currently pursuing his doctorate at Grand Canyon University, Shoemaker is also an Edmodo Certified Trainer, an Apple Distinguished Educator, and serves on the Advisory Board for the iBooks Author Certification Program.

Shoemaker’s EdmodoCon session, Innovate & Flourish: Setting Your School or District Up for EdTech Success, will run from 10:30 am–11:15 am PST. Whether your use of technology is grassroots or fostered by administrators, tune in to observe how one district successfully integrated Edmodo across its schools. From strategic planning to hands-on training, this session will give you ideas and tips on how to meet demand, support teachers and staff, personalize learning, take tech beyond the classroom, and more.

What inspired you to apply to speak at EdmodoCon?I have thought about presenting at EdmodoCon for several years now, but I never really knew how to narrow my topic to something that is relevant to the larger audience at hand. Originally, I felt the same way this year, but after thinking about it, I felt like there are enough people using Edmodo in a similar role to mine. I believe many people in the Edmodo Community are looking for ways and ideas on how to get Edmodo to grow in their school and district.

How did you feel when you found out you were selected?I know that a rather large number of people apply to present at EdmodoCon each year, so when I found out I was accepted, I felt honored to be a part of such a great group of teachers and teacher leaders. I am extremely excited to get to San Mateo and meet my fellow presenters, so I can learn some new, amazing things from them.

What’s the one thing you hope people take away from your EdmodoCon presentation?To find at least one thing they can take back to their school or district to help get more people using Edmodo. By providing a wide range of examples from a district and school level, I really hope to provide something for everyone to take away.

Why did you become an educator?I have always been a goal-oriented person. As a young kid growing up in Pittsburgh, I had always had the goal of becoming a teacher in Florida. My interest in teaching started when I was in third grade with my teacher, Mrs. Karen Harlack. Other amazing educators throughout my schooling career included Miss Kathleen Mancinelli and Mrs. Melanie Sandrock, both of whom really inspired me through their innovative teaching. The passion for their craft and care for their students that these educators had while I was in their classes solidified my desire to be an educator.

What do you like most about being an educator?I have a passion for working with the student that other teachers tend to shy away from. While I was in the classroom, I started off teaching Middle School Special Education. From there I moved to teaching Intensive Reading in that same Middle School. Intensive Reading is a class students must take if they did not do well on the state standardized test. My students ranged in reading levels from beginning reader to two years behind. While this population is not the easiest to work with, I knew I could inspire my students to find the book that would unlock their love of reading. Once they unlock the love of reading, everything else will fall into place. I love seeing the spark inside a student when they finally find that book that unlocks their love of reading.

Today, I teach teachers how to integrate technology into the classroom. It is a great position that allows me to do something different every day. My main goal now is to pass my passion for technology on to other teachers, so they can impact their students.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received from another educator?I believe the best piece of advice I have ever received from an educator came during my student teaching in a small town just north of Pittsburgh. My supervising teacher, Anita Alberti, told me to go room to room with my camera and copy everything I could from my peers. She was not telling me to steal, instead she was showing me the importance of learning from our peers. Why recreate an entire project when the teacher down the hall has a great project that you could just tweak to meet your needs? By “harvesting” ideas from our fellow teachers, we get more engaging lessons and projects; more importantly, it saves us time in the long run. Why reinvent the wheel when your neighbor has a great wheel next door you can start from?

What have your students taught you?Over the years, my students have taught me a lot. One thing I learned from my students early on is something I include as the introduction to my philosophy of teaching. My students showed me they are all learners. My philosophy of teaching states: I believe that all students possess an inherent need to acquire knowledge, no matter where they come from, their economic status, or their level of cognitive development.

We all hope we get an email like the one I received recently from a student I taught in 2006. He wrote, “The reason I am reaching out to you is to let you know that you were a great inspiration to me and I learned the importance of language and application of technology in education from your class. I am currently a Junior at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign studying Finance and I am the Chief Financial Officer of a local Chicago, Illinois, based start-up.” That warm fuzzy feeling I get from reading that is what my students have taught me!

What’s the first thing you do when you get home from school?Being the social media addict that I am, the first thing I do is check-in with Swarm/Foursquare. Once I get upstairs to my house, I can usually be found on Twitter or Facebook. There are other times that I have doctoral work, so I have a few different things I do once I get home.

Favorites

Food: Pasta

Movie: Anything Pixar/Disney-related

TV Show(s): Huge fan of Clarence on Cartoon Network

Music: Top 40

Book:A Child Called It by Dave Pelzer

Superpower: Telekinesis

Quote: “For the kids, [technology is] like using a pencil. Parents don’t talk about pencils, they talk about writing. And kids don’t talk about technology—they talk about playing, building a website, writing a friend, about the rainforest…To them, technology is like the air.” –Don Tapscott, Grown Up Digital

]]>https://blog.edmodo.com/2015/07/24/edmodocon-2015-meet-speaker-john-shoemaker/feed/61The Global Search for Education: What Israel Did to Improve PISA Resultshttps://blog.edmodo.com/2015/07/24/the-global-search-for-education-what-israel-did-to-improve-pisa-results/
https://blog.edmodo.com/2015/07/24/the-global-search-for-education-what-israel-did-to-improve-pisa-results/#commentsFri, 24 Jul 2015 16:30:44 +0000https://blog.edmodo.com/?p=15497The Global Search for Education (GSE) is a regular contributor to the Edmodo Blog. Authored by C.M. Rubin, GSE brings together distinguished thought leaders in education and innovation from around the world to explore the key learning issues faced by today’s nations. Look for a new post every Friday and join the Global Search for Education Community on Edmodo to share your perspectives with their editorial staff.

Israel is among the group of countries that made the largest improvement in all subject matters in the PISA test since the year 2000.

The Program for International Student Assessment (PISA), a triennial international survey, aims to evaluate education systems worldwide by testing the skills and knowledge of 15-year-old students. To date, students representing more than 70 economies have participated in the assessment.

Since PISA 2006, Israel’s performance in PISA has improved by an average of 4.2 points per year in mathematics and 2.8 points per year in science. And since 2000, the country’s score in reading has improved by an average of 3.7 points per year. Average performance in mathematics improved from 442 points in PISA 2006 to 466 points in PISA 2012, and reading performance improved from 452 points in 2000 to 486 points in 2012.

What were the strategies Israel used to steadily improve their student’s PISA results and how are they hoping to build on this success moving forward? Professor Michal Beller is the Founder and Director General of the Israeli National Authority for Measurement and Evaluation in Education (RAMA). Her area of expertise is educational testing and evaluation. Prior to her present position, she was senior research director of R&D at the Educational Testing Service (ETS) in Princeton, NJ, the largest testing institute in the world. She joined The Global Search for Education to discuss what Israel did.

Congratulations on Israel’s success in the 2012 PISA test. Was improving your students’ test results in the PISA exam important to you? Why?

The poor results of Israel on PISA in the first cycle (2002) caught Israel by surprise (PISA shock), and ever since, both the Ministry of Education and the public pay a lot of attention to the PISA results.

Although still below the OECD average, Israel’s performance on PISA has steadily improved (4.2, 3.7, and 2.8 points per year on average for Math, Reading, and Science, respectively). The improvement was also evident in the increase of very strong performers and the reduction in the percentage of very poor performers. This trend of improvement places Israel amongst the group of countries that made the largest improvement since 2000.

The improvement in PISA scores was accompanied by improvement in other indicators: national assessment results (Meitzav tests) showed steady increase during the last years as well, and TIMSS 2011 (Mathematics and Science achievement) resulted in a remarkable increase in scores. The convergence of different studies showing steady improvement indicates that indeed a real change in teaching and learning has occurred and students have improved.

To what do you attribute your success?

After the publication of the PISA 2002 results, a special task force (the “Dovrat Committee”) was set up by the minister of education at the time to thoroughly analyze the education system and come up with recommendations for ways to improve the system as a whole, and in particular, the students’ achievement.

Without rigorous research, there is no way to know what exactly to attribute the improvement to. In general, the steady improvement can be attributed to various attempts to reform the education system by various ministers of education (Dovrat Committee, the New Horizon program, Achievement Advancement) and special pedagogical approaches.

Can you briefly explain some of the strategies you used to accomplish your education goals?

In the last four years, quantifiable achievement goals were set for students’ performance on all assessments conducted in Israel (both national and international). To realize these, the following measures were taken:

Increasing budget (extra hours, supervision to all schools)

Updating the curricula for Math, Reading, and Science, and integrating the concept of literacy and problem solving

Extensive teacher professional development

Special programs focused on improving achievement in Math for very poor and very strong students

Special multidisciplinary programs for strengthening Reading literacy among students

Small group learning (as part of the New Horizon reform)

Incorporating the concept of “Assessment in the service of Learning” and maintaining its integrity among all educational partners

At this point, it is difficult to judge which measure was most effective and for whom. The consistency of the implementation and the synergy among the various actions taken is probably the answer.

What can the rest of the world learn from your experience?

The above policy and actions taken (as listed above) certainly produced results in terms of achievement. These improvements are important for two main reasons: they suggest that Israeli students are better equipped for “real life,” and at the same time, they demonstrate that the entire education system can make significant progress.

However, it remains to be seen to what extent the above efforts can and will be sustained for a long period of time.

What are the next steps for the Israeli education system given your achievements so far?

Currently, the system is moving away from viewing scholastic achievement as a central goal. A new reform is introduced—“meaningful learning”—based on constructivist principals of teaching and learning, shying away from assessments as drivers of learning. This approach is intended, among other things, to mitigate the negative consequences of high stakes testing, often associated with national assessments.

C.M. Rubin is the author of two widely read online series for which she received a 2011 Upton Sinclair award, “The Global Search for Education” and “How Will We Read?” She is also the author of three bestselling books, including The Real Alice in Wonderland, is the publisher of CMRubinWorld, and is a Disruptor Foundation Fellow.

(All photos courtesy of the Israeli Ministry of Education)

]]>https://blog.edmodo.com/2015/07/24/the-global-search-for-education-what-israel-did-to-improve-pisa-results/feed/0EdmodoCon 2015: Conozca a Nuestra Presentadora Teresa Perleshttps://blog.edmodo.com/2015/07/23/edmodocon-2015-meet-speaker-teresa-perles/
https://blog.edmodo.com/2015/07/23/edmodocon-2015-meet-speaker-teresa-perles/#commentsThu, 23 Jul 2015 19:00:26 +0000https://blog.edmodo.com/?p=15457For the first time, EdmodoCon will feature a special Spanish-language session. To highlight Teresa Perles and her Learning Gets Personal: Differentiating to Improve Individual Outcomes presentation, the following blog post is written entirely in her native tongue.